Anthony O. Farrell was a respected farmer in Oregon. He was born in Ireland, in Slingo County on May 2, 1828. He was the son of Matthew and Bridget (Feeney). Matthew Farrell served for thirteen years as a soldier in the British army and was the father of 6 children.
Anthony O. Farrell grew up and was educated in Ireland. In 1854, at the age of 26, Anthony sailed for America, first settling in Vermont where he lived for 12 years where he worked in marble quarries.
He was married in 1856, to Miss Ellen Dunn, who was also a native of County Sligo, Ireland. Ellen was born on May 8, 1837 to Lawrence and Bridget (Kelly). Ellen came from a large family but only two other daughters came to America–Bridget, who married a Mr. Gilfeather, and she who became the wife of Mr. Farrell.
In 1866, Anthony came to Wisconsin and was worked on the railroad line being constructed between Brooklyn and Madison. He continued being employed by the railroad for three years, then worked on a farm for about to years, after which he worked land on shares. In 1875, he purchased 120 acres of land in the town of Oregon which he had previously been farming.
His sister Mary also lived in the Village of Oregon with her husband Michael Crowe. who is the wife of Michael Crowe and resides in the village of Oregon.
Anthony and Ellen had 9 children:
- Matthew T. married Catherine Keigen who lived in the town of Union;
- Patrick L. married May Kelley. He died and May lived in Dakota;
- Bridget married Byron Andrew and lived in Superior, Wisconsin;
- Edward married Mary Wallace and lived in South Dakota;
- Ellen married Olamp Garvoil and lived in the town of Rutland;
- Mary August;
- John William lived in Chicago;
- Margaret Ann married Mr. Silver, lived in Kilbourn, Columbia county, Wisconsin;
- Anthony J. married Wilhelmina Ace, and lived at home with his father.
Mr. Farrell was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and was Roman Catholic church.
Sources referenced:
1906 History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Western Historical Association, Madison, WI, p. 279-280 accessible at https://archive.org/details/historyofdanecou02keye